Victoria tree removal rules and permits
Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?
Short answer
In the City of Victoria you need a tree permit to cut, prune or remove a protected tree on private property. Protected trees include any tree over 30 cm across at chest height, plus Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific yew and Pacific dogwood over 50 cm tall. There is no fee for hazard or dead trees.
Key facts
| When a permit is needed | The owner of a protected tree on private property must get a tree permit to cut, prune or remove it. Protected: trees over 30 cm DBH, hedges with a stem over 30 cm DBH, Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific yew or Pacific dogwood over 50 cm tall, replacement trees, covenant trees, trees on slopes over 33%, and trees within 15 m of a watercourse.Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035, s. 1 'protected tree', s. 5(1); Tree Protection Bylaw, Tree Protection Bylaw page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe owner of a protected tree wishing to cut, prune, or remove the tree must apply for and a tree with a DBH over 30 cm, Garry Oak (Quercus garryana), Arbutus (Arbutus menziesii), Pacific Yew (Taxus a tree that is within 15 metres of the natural boundary of a watercourse The bylaw applies to trees on private property |
|---|---|
| Exemptions | The bylaw does not apply to City work on park, highway or City-owned land. A person may cut a tree in imminent danger of failing before applying, but must apply the next business day with a photo or video and leave the remains for City inspection. The Director may waive a permit in limited cases.Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035, s. 3(2), s. 5(3), s. 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw does not apply to the cutting, pruning or removal of a tree undertaken by or on in such imminent danger of failing that there is not time to obtain a tree permit prior to the on the next business day from the date of cutting, pruning, or removing, apply for a The Director may waive the requirement to obtain a tree permit pursuant to subsection (1) |
| Fee | No fee to remove a hazard tree, dead tree or invasive tree, for emergency removal, or for pruning only. Otherwise $50 for a lot up to 2,000 m², $100 for 2,000 to 4,000 m², $250 per 4,000 m² for larger lots. $50 to extend or modify a permit. Fees are not refundable.Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035, Schedule A, s. 23 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTo only cut or remove any of the following trees: For emergency cutting or removal only To prune a tree only For any other tree permit, the fee is determined as follows: For a lot that is less than or equal to 2,000m2 in size ii. For a lot that is between 2000m2 and 4000m2 in size A fee pursuant to subsection (1) is not refundable. |
| Replacement trees | One replacement tree for each protected tree removed, on the same lot (two smaller trees if a larger one will not fit; hedges per 4 m). Security of $350 per tree for ordinary permits ($2,000 or $1,000 for development-related permits). If the lot cannot hold the tree, $2,000 cash-in-lieu per tree (not required for hazard trees).Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035, s. 20, s. 25; Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035, s. 25(1)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe owner of a lot must plant replacement trees in accordance with this section for every for all other tree permits, $350.00 per tree or 4 metres of hedge length being $2000.00 cash-in-lieu for each replacement tree that cannot be accommodated, the applicant is not required to provide cash-in-lieu to $2,000.00 per replacement tree of a species described in Part 1 or Part 3 of |
| City trees | The Tree Protection Bylaw covers private trees, not City work on City land. On a boulevard no one may cut, injure or remove a tree without a City agreement or Parks permit (Streets and Traffic Bylaw s. 103A(7)). City posts removal notices 14 days ahead. Do not plant within 45 cm of a street line.Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035, s. 3(2); Trees Planting and Removal; Streets and Traffic Bylaw, Streets and Traffic Bylaw s. 112 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw does not apply to the cutting, pruning or removal of a tree undertaken by or on Tree removal notices will be posted on trees 14 days before any planned removal. A person must not plant a tree, hedge, bush, or shrub closer than 45 cm to a cut, break, injure, remove, climb, or in any way destroy or damage persons acting under an agreement with the City or a permit issued by |
| Fine | $1,000 ($850 if paid within 30 days) for cutting, damaging, pruning or removing a protected tree against the bylaw or a permit (s. 4(1)). $300 ($250) for failing to get a tree permit (s. 5(1)). $750 for failing to replace a tree removed in an emergency (s. 15(4)).Ticket Bylaw 10-071, Schedule PP, Ticket Bylaw 10-071, Schedule PP (Tree Protection Bylaw) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingremove tree in conflict with tree permit Fail to obtain tree Fail to replace tree 4(1) $1,000.00 $850.00 removed in emergency |
| Bylaw | Tree Protection Bylaw No. 21-035Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1 NO. 21-035 TREE PROTECTION BYLAW A BYLAW OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA The purposes of this Bylaw are to protect and enhance the urban forest by: |
How it works
The City of Victoria's Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035 says the owner of a protected tree on private property must get a tree permit to cut, prune or remove it. Pruning means trimming branches 10 cm in diameter or larger. Protected trees are:
- trees over 30 cm diameter at breast height (1.4 m above the ground), and hedges with a stem over 30 cm;
- Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific yew or Pacific dogwood over 50 cm tall;
- replacement trees and trees covered by a covenant;
- trees on slopes over 33%, and trees within 15 m of a watercourse.
Steps
- Measure the trunk at 1.4 m above the ground to see if the tree is protected.
- Email treepermits@victoria.ca or fill in the Tree Permit Application Form.
- Wait for the permit before cutting. Expect to replace each protected tree on the same lot (two smaller trees if a larger one will not fit) and to give security. If the lot cannot hold the tree, the cash-in-lieu is $2,000 per tree (not required for hazard trees).
- Post the public notice on your lot, facing the street, at least 24 hours before work, and leave it up until the work is done.
Good to know
- Examples where a permit may be granted: a hazard tree, a dead tree, an invasive species, a tree in the building envelope, or one damaging structures.
- Emergency: you may cut a tree in imminent danger of failing before applying, but you must apply the next business day with a photo or video and leave the remains for City inspection.
- Fees: $50 to extend or modify a permit, and fees are not refundable.
- Fines: $1,000 ($850 if paid within 30 days) for cutting a protected tree against the bylaw or a permit; $300 ($250) for failing to get a permit; $750 for failing to replace a tree removed in an emergency.
- The bylaw does not cover City work on park, highway or City-owned land. On a boulevard, no one may cut, injure or remove a tree without a City agreement or Parks permit. The City posts removal notices 14 days ahead.
- Building work may require tree information and a permit, for example an accessory building (including a garden suite) or an addition over 10 m², excluding decks, patios and balconies.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Oak Bay · Esquimalt · View Royal · Saanich · Colwood · Langford
Sources
- Tree Protection Bylaw, City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
- Tree Protection Bylaw 21-035 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Trees Planting and Removal, City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (PDF), Schedule PP (read 2026-11-05)
- Streets and Traffic Bylaw (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.